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an you really trust？〃
He stalked toward the arched doorway of the Landsraad Council chamber。 There was no applause。。。no laughter either。 Only shocked silence； and he suspected he had gotten through to some of them。 Or perhaps he was just being optimistic。 Duke Leto Atreides had much to learn about statecraft as no doubt Hawat would tell him on the trip home but he vowed not to bee like the lip…service importers in that chamber。 For all of his days； for as long as he could draw breath； Leto would remain reliable and faithful and true。 Eventually the others would see that in him。。。perhaps even his enemies would。
Thufir Hawat joined him at the colonnaded portals； and they both passed out of the enormous Hall of Oratory as the Landsraad continued its business without them。
History demonstrates that the advancement of technology is not a steady upward curve。 There are flat periods； upward spurts； and even reversals。
…Technology of the Imperium； 532nd Edition
While two shadowy figures watched； a bland…faced Dr。 Yungar passed a Suk scanner over the old man； who lay ashen…faced on the bed as if drowning in voluminous coverings； embroidered sheets； and diaphanous netting。 The diagnostic instrument hummed。
He won't be needing his concubines ever again； Shaddam thought。
〃The Emperor is dead；〃 Yungar announced； tossing his long iron…gray ponytail over his shoulder。
〃Ah； yes。 At least now he's at peace；〃 Shaddam said in a low； husky voice； though a superstitious chill ran down his spine。 Had Elrood known； at the very end； who had been responsible for his demise？ Just before death； the ancient man's reptilian eyes had focused on his son。 With a twisting in his gut； the Crown Prince remembered the terrible day when the Emperor had discovered Shaddam's plicity in the murder of his elder son Fafnir。。。and how the old man had chortled upon discovering that his younger child had been slipping contraceptives into the food of his own mother； Habla； so she couldn't conceive another son and rival to him。
Had Elrood suspected this？ Had he cursed his own son and heir with his dying thoughts？
Well； it was certainly too late to change his mind now。 The ancient ruler was dead； at last； and Shaddam had been the cause of it。 No； not him。 Fenring。 Let him be the scapegoat； if necessary。 A Crown Prince could never admit such guilt。
Soon he would no longer be Crown Prince he would be Emperor； at last。 Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe。 It was imperative； though； that he not show his excitement or triumph。 He would wait until after the formal coronation。
〃Not that this is unexpected；〃 Hasimir Fenring said at his side； his large head bowed low； weak chin tucked against his throat。 〃The poor man has been degenerating for some time； ah…mm…m…m…m。〃
The Suk doctor folded his scanning instrument shut and slipped it into the pocket of his tunic。 Everyone else had been ordered out of the room： the concubines； the guards； even Chamberlain Hesban。
〃Something odd about this case； though；〃 Yungar said。 〃For days now I've had a feeling of unease。。。something more here than an old man dying of natural causes。 We must be exceedingly cautious with our analysis； since it is the Emperor 〃
〃Was the Emperor；〃 Shaddam said； too quickly。 Fenring made a subtle warning gesture to get his attention。
〃My point exactly。〃 The Suk doctor brushed a hand across the black…diamond tattoo on his forehead。 Shaddam wondered if he was just distressed that he would no longer receive extravagant fees for continuing treatment。
〃My good Doctor； Emperor Elrood was ancient and under a great deal of stress。〃 In an odd benediction； Fenring bent down and placed his fingertips on the old man's cold brow； which reminded Shaddam of a parchment…covered rock。 〃We who were closest to him saw visible changes in his health and mental capacity in； say； the past two years。 It would be best if you do not voice innuendos and unfounded suspicions that could only damage the stability of the Imperium； especially in this difficult time； hm…m…m…m？ Padishah Emperor Elrood IX was more than a hundred and fifty years old； with one of the longest reigns in the history of the Corrinos。 Let us leave it at that。〃
Shaddam cleared his throat。 〃What else could it be； Doctor？ The security around my father is impenetrable； guards and poison…snoopers everywhere。 No one could possibly have harmed him。〃
Yungar looked uneasily past the Crown Prince to the ferretlike man behind him。 〃Identity； motive； and opportunity。 Those are the questions； and though I'm not a police investigator； I'm certain a Mentat could provide answers to all three。 I will pile my data and provide it to a review board。 It is strictly a formality； but it must be done。〃
〃Who would do such a thing to my father？〃 Shaddam demanded； stepping closer。 The doctor's abruptness made him stiffen； but this Suk had already demonstrated his pompous nature。 The dead man on the bed seemed to be watching them； his clawed fingers pointing in accusation。
〃More evidence needs to be gathered first； Sire。〃
〃Evidence？ Of what sort？〃 He calmed himself。 Sweat broke out on his brow； and he ran a hand across his carefully styled reddish hair。 Perhaps he was carrying the act too far。
Fenring seemed entirely calm and moved to the other side of the bed； near where the remains of the Emperor's last glass of spice beer sat。
In a whisper that only Shaddam could hear； the doctor said； 〃It is my duty as a loyal Suk to warn you； Prince Shaddam； that you； too； may be in extreme danger。 Certain forces。。。according to reports I've seen。。。do not want House Corrino to remain in power。〃
〃Since when does the Suk School obtain reports about Imperial alliances and intrigues？〃 Fenring asked； slithering closer。 He had not heard the specific words； but years ago he had taught himself the valuable skill of reading lips。 It helped greatly with his spying activities。 He had tried to teach Shaddam the trick； but the Crown Prince had not caught the knack of it yet。
〃We have our sources；〃 the Suk doctor said。 〃Regrettably； such connections are necessary even for a school such as ours dedicated to healing。〃 Recalling the doctor's insistence on full payment before even looking at a patient； Shaddam frowned at this irony。 〃We live in perilous times。〃
〃Do you suspect anyone in particular？〃 Shaddam husked； following the direction of the doctor's gaze。 Perhaps they could set up Chamberlain Hesban to take the fall plant evidence； start rumors。
〃In your position it would be safest to suspect everyone； Sire。 I would like to conduct an autopsy on Emperor Elrood。 Working with a partner from the Inner School； we can scanalyze every organ； every tissue； every cell。。。just to be safe。〃
Shaddam frowned。 〃It seems a terrible disrespect to my father； slicing him up into little pieces。 He had quite a。。。a horror of surgery。 Ah； yes。 Better to let him lie in peace。 We must prepare immediately for the funeral of state。 And my coronation ceremony。〃
〃On the contrary；〃 Yungar persisted； 〃we show respect for Elrood's memory by trying to determine what happened to him。 Perhaps something was implanted in his body some time ago； when his behavior began to cha